HVR-Z1U HD vs. HVX200

[Barry Green]

“broadcast quality” is a squirrely definition to pin down. Both are capable of excellent results, that’s for sure. But DiscoveryHD will not accept Z1 footage, or any HDV footage AFAIK.

1080i and 720p are two different modes of HD. The Z1 only does 1080i. The HVX does all the modes supported by the ATSC high-definition broadcast standard: it does 1080/24p, 1080/30p, 1080/60i, 720/60p, 720/24p, and 720/30p.

The HVX does basically everything the Z1 does, and an awful lot of things that the Z1 doesn’t. The Z1’s main thing is that it records its version of high-def onto a $4 tape, and the HVX doesn’t. If you need an hour’s worth of recording on a $4 tape, and you’re satisfied with the HDV quality and the attendant limitations that come with it (no variable frame rates, no 720p, etc), then the Z1 may make sense. But if you can work with the P2/FireStore/CinePorter workflow of the HVX, then you’ll get everything the Z1 offers and a whole lot more.

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[Ron Shook]

Jason,

[hopperHD] “I’m just stepping in to the business now and don’t want something that will be obsolete in 3 years.”

Good Luck! This business is moving so fast that everything starts to look obsolete in 2 years. This is just my opinion and a not very popular one with those who already have HDV cameras like the HVR-Z1U, but I suspect that the HVX200 is gonna decimate HDV sales by all other manufacturers (Maybe not at first, but 6 months to a year down the line). While it’s gonna be considerably more difficult and somewhat more expensive to work-flow with for everything but DV, in 2 or 3 years P2 (solid state memory) technology will start to rival tape in cost, and we’ll never look back.

Ron Shook

[Frank Nolan]

What is AFAIK? 🙁

[Kathlyn Lindeboom]

[Frank Nolan] “What is AFAIK?”

As Far as I Know

Kathlyn Lindeboom
The Mistress of Mmmooooo!

[Kevin Wild]

Not sure about that. There was a lot of talk recently on DVI that Discovery HAS approved the Canon XL H1 for broadcast. Having just received one yesterday AND having edited a bunch of Discovery programming…I would bet this is true. The H1’s picture is outstanding.

Kevin

[Hopperhd]

Not sure what you’re suggesting. Are you comparing the Canon XL H1 to that of the HVR-Z1U HD, or the HVX200? Out of the two, what one is closer to the Canon XL H1?

Thanks,
Jason

[Kevin Wild]

I know people always want to talk about what is best. BUT, if you light something nicely and take care with your production, I doubt 95% of viewers could see the difference between these 3 cameras. It’s more about what you’re looking for and what you need. I can’t go into all that, but there are TONS of posts about the differences in workflows and such.

My $.02, after seeing the Z1, is that the Canon’s HDV matches the best with the Panny HVX200 due to some things they did and some great glass. BUT again…this is a percent or two. All are great cameras…don’t get caught up in all these charts and tests people are putting up. They will all do the job at an exceptional level for their price point.

Kevin

[Hopperhd]

Thanks Kev!

I’ve researched a lot lately and there are so many posts with “just around the corner”. Now it’s time to make a decision 🙂

[Michael Brennan]

[Ron Shook] “While it’s gonna be considerably more difficult and somewhat more expensive to work-flow with for everything but DV, in 2 or 3 years P2 (solid state memory) technology will start to rival tape in cost, and we’ll never look back.”

What do you base your figures on Ron?

Mike Brennan

[Gary Adcock]

[Kevin Wild] “My $.02, after seeing the Z1, is that the Canon’s HDV matches the best with the Panny HVX200 due to some things they did and some great glass. BUT again…this is a percent or two. All are great cameras…don’t get caught up in all these charts and tests people are putting up. “

Anyone with the proper knowledge can make any of these cameras do what ever they need them to do, it is in the hands of a true pro that the differences really show. Canon has produced a great camera, but with out any supporting decks the camera has very limited use in a post world. Tape is no good when there is nothing to play it back in other than a camera -HDSDI out or not.

the HVX200 offers a shooter more controls,true hd capture of every single frame, higher usability do to multiple formats in HD and SD, in addition to the ability to shoot 24 fps and offspeed content. No other camera under 200K offers all of these possibilities.

Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA